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In the twenty-first century, pantomime as a genre is generally
understood as a particularly British theatrical tradition that
became established in the late eighteenth century. Its antecedents
lay in the European Commedia dell’arte of the Renaissance, a
performance genre itself potentially influenced by elements of
classical theatre. The history of British pantomime has been one of
innovation, frequently shaped by the social, economic and political
world beyond the theatre, but also marked by debates centering on
the cultural standing of the genre and specific performers.

From Greek Origins to Renaissance Italy

In seeking a history of the pantomime before the Commedia
dell’arte of the sixteenth and seventeenth …

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Citation:
Sullivan, Jill. "A History of British Pantomime". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2013
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=812, accessed 10 December 2016.]

812A History of British Pantomime2Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.